Huntsville gazette., 1887-12-24

famed the flames to their own ferocity.
Noon was at hand, but the sun, which
should lend it's light to the merry day, hid
his face behind dark clouds of lead.
II will look for him." she screamed. 81
can't bear to have him lying dead in the
snow," and half crazed by the thought
and hunger she sprang out into the storm.
Madly she dashed through the deep
SHOWS across the clearing into the forest.
The snow buntings, merry among the
fakes, chirped at her as she seemed to fly
past. Into the forest at last she sprang
almost exhausted, but by superhuman eff
fort, shrieked the name of her lover !:
'Sam p ''SamIn 30, Samp'
'Here is a Sam! Who wants SAINT" quer-
ried voice not far away.
'It is ], Maryl'' she shouted with her last
breath, and fell unconscious in the SHOWS.
A tall young man bounded from a tent
which was covered with snow, followed by
several companions and big hound, which
reached the PROSTATE form first and covered
the face with his breath.
''Its Mary, fatherI'' yelled the delighted
lover, as he took her in his arms and hast
ened to the tent. ''That clearing where I
missed the deer must belong to the Smiths
and perhaps we are near the house."
"You are not very far away" shouted
another voice. Heavily working through
the SHOWS came the Smiths, father and
sons, beaming with delight. In the big tent
hot fire and a little toddy warmed the
tired people and Mary was soon revived
sufficiently to return her lovers caresses.
"We have horses, cattle, food and a
clergyman" said the elder Houston, when
he learned of the starved household of
Smiths. GAN we lack is Christmas din
ner to precede Christmas wedding"
"And we have the best portion of a fine
stag cooking if you have something to eat
with it." said Mary, coyly.
''And my stag, too, I'll wagerr' remarked
Mr.. Sam Houston. 81 fired at a big fel-
low, but he disappeared in the wild storm
like phantom"
AS the log cabin was not large enough
for the dinner, the mother and the cooked
portion Of the stag were soon transferred to
the commodious tent. The several stories
were soon told, and Of these it is only nee
essary to relate the Houstons'. They were
late about leaving Westchester and winter
caught them in their long, slow journey.
At last, despairing of finding Smiths
Clearing and blinded blythe storm, they en-
camped in the forest on the edge of the
open, to await pleasant weather.
They came prepared to found colony,
and in a few days, men and women
struggled into camp. The clergyman, who
had been induced to come, on the plea of
missionary usefulness among the Indians,
Of whom, by the way, there were none in
the vicinity, performed the interesting
Christmas ceremony. In place of a bridal
bell, the young people stood beneath sprigs
of princess pine and boughs of hemlock.
The little town, which grew here eventu-
ally, believe, bears to this day the pecu-
liar name Of Graball, queer title, but one
in existence on the Little Salmon river,
where the unbehever can investigate. The
descendants of Mr.. and Mrs. Sam Houston,
quite numerous in Graball, still tell, at their
large annual reunions, the strange story
of the pioneers, and the first born maid of
each new home is called Mary, in honor Of
the charming forest girl.
WIN. HOSEA BALLOU.